“For works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past” was the citation used when the Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Seamus Heaney in 1995. Students and staff at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven had the pleasure of listening to a lecture by the Irish poet on 22 March.

In a full auditorium of the renovated building of the Irish College Prof. Dr. Hedwig Schwall officially launched the new Leuven Centre for Irish Studies. This afternoon event started with a panel on Irish Studies today in Ireland, Europe and the World with distinguished scholars from prestigious European universities.

Prof. Dr Ann Fogarty (President of the International James Joyce Foundation & Director of UCD James Joyce Research Centre) stressed how an important mark James Joyce has left on Irish, British and World literature in general. Her splendid speech was followed by a humorous presentation from Prof. Dr Werner Huber (University of Vienna). He talked mainly about how even in Austria there is a strong presence and interest in Irish Studies, and also his favourite Samuel Beckett. Next speaker on the panel was Dr David M. Clark (Universidade da Coruna, Secretary of AEDEI, Spanish Association for Irish Studies) who contributed to the discussion with his important points on Spanish-Irish relations. Prof. Dr. Margaret Kelleher (An Foras Feasa, NUI Maynooth, President of IASIL) ended the panel discussion with her insights into Irish literature and art.

After these interesting debates K.U. Leuven’s very own Prof. Dr Jan Roegiers presented a work of many years of research conducted by Jeroen Nilis. His book “The Irish Students at Leuven University 1548-1797. A Prosopography” gives a unique view of Irishmen coming to Leuven to study.

There are a few words to describe the ground-moving lecture Lambdas on the Stubble: Readings and Reflections given by Prof. Seamus Heaney. His insightful readings of selected poems have truly made an immense impression on the students and staff at the Leuven Centre for Irish Studies. The Nobel laureate reflected on his childhood and past with several humorous anecdotes followed by readings of poems analogous to the events mentioned.

Reading poetry is one thing, but listening to a poet who reads the poems himself is a whole different agenda. While Mr. Heaney was stopping to catch his breath, he would actually take everyone’s breath away. There were no people left unimpressed.

After the lecture, a few distinguished guests addressed the visitors. Among those are Prof. Filip Abraham, (Vice-President Humanities and Social Sciences of the Catholic University of Leuven), Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D., (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland), Mr. Kris Peeters (Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Flemish Minister for Economy, Foreign Policy, Agricultural and Rural Policy), and Prof. Dr. Hedwig Schwall, (General Director of the Leuven Centre for Irish Studies).

The whole program was accompanied by a musical interlude by Fergus orchestra. After the official part of the program there was a Signing Ceremony, a pleasant Reception with a film screening of Brendan and the Secret of Kells.

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven continues the tradition of having guest lecturers of the highest rank. Prof. Seamus Heaney was not the first, and from the looks of it will definitely not be the last Nobel Prize laureate to visit our university. With events like this, it makes a student proud to be studying in Leuven. |